Slat awning



Oct. 20, 1953 s J ALBANY 2,655,697

SLAT AWNING Filed July 14, 1949 IN V EN TOR. Sm/var Jflz an/vr' {E Mum Patented Oct. 20, .1953

UNITED STATES PATENT err-lei:

Stanley Fasadena, Calif. *AMOILZ'I]! 1 1949, Serial No. 164,647

(Cl. 2D-.57.5) I

1 Claim. 1

This invention relatesito a slat time of outside window awning.

The main objects of this invention are: to Prowide an improved construction 20f outside window awning of the slat type in'which the slats are secured along one edge thereof and the other edge is supported so as'tobe in a predetermined fixed position; to provide an improved type of slat awning in which the slats "have a trans-verse curvature and iare'mounted under tension so as to eliminate rattle or noise .when subjected .to wind-conditions; to provide an improved type of transversely curved awning .Is'lat which possesses extreme rigidity and adaptability for ri idmount- :ing in a unitary structure; and itoprovide animnproved construction of transversely curved .iawn- Zing slat whichreflects'theflight'from the :exterior surface of one 'slatto the interior surface iOIf .an- :other slat :and "transmits "it "in difiused form to the interior of the room while preventing the entrance of direct sunlight through the window.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of my improved awning applied exteriorly to a window frame structure;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing a typical mounting of the slats on a base frame member;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a slidghtly modified form of slat and support for its free end;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line IV--IV of Fig. 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 3 but showing modified forms of support for the free edge of the slats.

Heretofore in the construction of slat type awnings there has been considerable difilculty in securing an assembly of the slats to a base frame structure in such manner that the slats when subjected to the action of windstorms and the like, would not rattle and clatter and thereby make objectionable noises, particularly during the nighttime.

In the present construction the individual slats comprising the awning are curved in cross section and each of the marginal edges is provided with a transversely bent flange, the combination of which produces and extremely rigid slat. One of these transversely bent marginal edges is used to anchor the slat to the base frame structure and the other edge of the slat rests upon a supporting post under tension sufficient to prevent the free edge from raising up 01! the top end of the supporting posts. The result of this improved construction is :that the awning is .entirQIy la n in the construct-inn shows-11in th drawin s 11 improved awning .rcommtiees 2 anlu ality Di :8 2 .1%!-

ally rectangular elongated 5 ,316 6 pre e b y formed of strips of aluminum o 29 2132 1 metal, which have been subjected toth eaction of either i s ,o rolls s as zip :be s ren a ge curvatu e in cross :serztion, as show zmq 53.835 1 in Fi s. 2. L3 and 5 41f the d aw ngs- One 1 themarsina -seges o th s atszfi (i vben to form .a base flanged andthenrbentatrishtal .g-les to form an u tandin fl n 9. thu Jer y d p acticall a .channelron tructionfor t d of t e latse ,or' an e Bi ada te to be securedby self-threading screws or other suitable fasteners 12 to transversely disposed frame members M and t6-which are illustrated as being of channel shape cross section but which may be of any suitable construction desired.

The opposite edge of each of the slats 6 is also provided with an inwardly bent flange [8 which provides rigidity for the free edge of the slat and when assembled as shown in Fig. 2, provides a locating point for a support. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the web of channels [4 and and I6 has elongated tongues 20 struck out from the metal thereof at right angles thereto to form supporting posts for the outer free edges of the slats, the top edge of which engages the under surface of the slat closely adjacent to the Junetisire of the curved portion of the slat and flange In the assembly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the supporting post 22 is so related to the width of the slat 6 as to engage the under curved 7 surface of the slats in spaced relation to the flange I8, but this is merely a matter of choice as either construction is equally satisfactory.

In all instances the base flange 8 is formed at such an angle with respect to the slat 6 and the length of the supporting post 20 or 22 that when the base flange 8 is in surface to surface relation with the webs of the frame members I4 and Hi, the free edge of the slat will be positioned if not restrained at a point closer to the frame member than when supported upon the posts as shown in broken lines in Fig. 2. By having the posts 20 and 22 of longer length than the normal position of the slats when not under tension, the slats when assembled and resting on their supporting posts are all under considerable tension and bear firmly upon the top ends of their respective supporting posts so that when subjected towind and 3 air currents, there will be no tendency for the free ends of the slats to rattle or clatter up and down on the ends of their supporting posts.

In the forms shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings the supporting posts 24 are separate angle clips instead of being struck out of the metal of the frame members [4 and I6. As shown in full lines in Fig. 5, the angle clip 24 may have its base end held by the attaching screw I2 with the post having its top end engaging the next adjacent slat at the juncture of the flange l8 with the body 6 of the slat. When the post 24 is reversed or turned 180, the point of engagement will be inward from such point of juncture and when it is desired to have the post at a point still further inward, as shown at 26, then it will be secured to the frame member H by a separate attaching screw 28.

In the use of my improved type of slat awning, the sunlight striking the outer curved surfaces of one slat will be partially reflected upwardly so as to strike the under side of the next adjacent slat thereabove, and from that inner side be reflected into the room, thereby giving light to the room upon which the awning is attached without permitting the direct entrance of the sun's rays. The result of this structure is that the room is well lighted with diffused rays and without being subjected to any direct sun's rays shining through the window.

The right angle flange [0 formed on the base 'flange 8 of each slat not only imparts great 4 or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claim.

I claim:

A slat type awning structure comprising a frame including rigid bars spaced transversely from each other and extending downwardly at a forward incline between their upper and lower ends, a plurality of slats extending horizontally across said bars one above another, each slat having a rear side edge portion formed with a longitudinally extending channel having a flat base portion firmly secured against outer surfaces of said bars and a rear wall projecting outwardly from the bars, said slats each extending outwardly at a downward incline from said bars in overlapping and outwardly spaced relation to the rear portion of a slat below it and having a front side'edge portion formed with a downwardly extending flange, said slats being formed of resilient material, and posts extending upwardly above the channels of said slats and being of a height greater than the initial distance between said bars and front side portions of the slats, said slats being sprung upwardly and resting upon upper ends of the posts and having frictional binding engagement therewith.

STANLEY J. ALBANY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

